Cook ran in the [[State legislative elections, 2012|2012 election]] for [[New York State Assembly elections, 2012|New York State Assembly]] District 32. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2012. She was unchallenged in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.<ref>[http://www.elections.ny.gov:8080/reports/rwservlet?cmdkey=whofiled ''State of New York, State Board of Elections'', Candidate Petition List, retrieved August 15, 2012.]</ref><ref>[http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/elections/local/results?g=nyAssembly&state=NY ''ABC News,'' "New York unofficial 2012 primary election results," accessed September 13, 2012]</ref>

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Cook ran in the [[State legislative elections, 2012|2012 election]] for [[New York State Assembly elections, 2012|New York State Assembly]] District 32. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2012. She was unchallenged in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.<ref>[http://www.elections.ny.gov:8080/reports/rwservlet?cmdkey=whofiled ''State of New York, State Board of Elections'', Candidate Petition List, retrieved August 15, 2012]</ref><ref>[http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/elections/local/results?g=nyAssembly&state=NY ''ABC News,'' "New York unofficial 2012 primary election results," accessed September 13, 2012]</ref>

{{Election box 2012

{{Election box 2012

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===2010===

===2010===

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In 2010, Cook received $4,970 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/grid.phtml?s=NY&y=2010&#fC ''followthemoney.org'', "2010 contributions," accessed December 23, 2013]</ref>

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In 2010, Cook received $4,970 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/grid.phtml?s=NY&y=2010&#fC ''Follow the Money'', "2010 contributions," accessed December 23, 2013]</ref>

Her other political experiences include secretary for Queens County 32nd Assembly District; part of the Democratic National Committee; and district leader to Queens County 32nd Assembly District; delegate to Democratic National Convention; majority whip, New York State Assembly; and chair of the Queens County Democratic Committee.

Issues

Pension sweeteners

On February 13, 2013, New York legislators introduced eight bills to "sweeten" government employee pensions. The nonpartisan Citizens Budget Commission released a chart of these bills and their costs, totaling $1.311 billion for the state government and $46 million for local governments. Cook sponsored or co-sponsored three of these eight.[2] E.J. McMahon of the pro-market Empire State Center for New York Policy criticized the bills but placed major responsibility for them on Governor Andrew Cuomo, who in 2012 raised the possibility of better pension deals if the economy improved.[3] The New York Daily News published an editorial against the bills on February 21, denouncing the proposals as examples of "incorrigible recklessness with the public’s money."[4]

Sponsored Legislation

Assembly Bill 4879, sponsored by Peter Abbate, Eric Stevenson, William Colton, Cook, and Earlene Hill Hooper would allow employees in the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (NYSLERS) to retire with full benefits after 35 years of employment without regard to their age. This bill would cost the state government an estimated $87 million.[5]

Assembly Bill 4920, sponsored by Abbate, Colton, Cook, Michael Cusick, Steven Englebright, and Weisenberg, would allow Tier I and II employees of the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (NYSLERS) and the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System (NYSLPFRS) to include up to 30 days of unused vacation time in the final average salary calculation for their pension benefits. This would cost the state government an estimated $110 million and local governments an estimated $45 million.[7]

Elections

2012

Cook ran in the 2012 election for New York State Assembly District 32. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2012. She was unchallenged in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.[8][9]

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Vivian Cook is available dating back to 1998. Based on available campaign finance records, Vivian Cook raised a total of $188,118 during that time period. This information was last updated on September 24, 2013.[12]